Jackie Chan takes political role

Shanghai

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan has become a member of the top advisory body to the Chinese government, Phoenix New Media said on its website yesterday, citing an unidentified person.

The 58-year-old action star will attend the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, according to the Phoenix article. A call after business hours to the office of Peco Ng, Jackie Chan’s spokeswoman, wasn’t answered.

Jackie Chan carries the Olympic torch during the lead-up to the Beijing games in 2008. Photo: AP

Chan, whose movies include Rush Hour and Kung Fu Panda, called the US the world’s ‘‘most corrupt’’ country in an interview with Phoenix TV, the South China Morning Post reported on January 12. China has been bullied by international powers for a long time and only began making progress in recent years, he was cited as saying.

Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang said yesterday it would be inappropriate for him to join the new session of the National Committee of the CPPCC, as Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption conducts an investigation into some activities while he was in office.

China approached him about participating in the body and he rejected the offer, Mr Tsang said.

The CPPCC meets annually in parallel to legislators who are delegates to the National People’s Congress, which begins its annual session on March 5.